- England National Teams
Sloan and Smith come into men’s Commonwealth Games squad
Ian Sloan and Rhys Smith have been brought into the England men’s squad for the Commonwealth Games, which begin this week.
Ian and Rhys replace both Nick Park - who has unfortunately picked up an injury that rules him out of the Games - and Liam Sanford who withdrew through injury two weeks ago.
Sloan, 28, has played in two Olympic Games for Team GB and brings a wealth of experience with a total of 128 caps for England and Great Britain. His Wimbledon teammate Smith, 25, will line up in his first senior tournament, having played 29 times for England and Great Britain since his debut in late 2018.
Birmingham 2022 begins in just three days’ time, with the hockey then getting underway on Friday at the University of Birmingham.
Both the men’s and women’s teams have now arrived in Birmingham for their final preparations. In the women’s squad Flora Peel is being given as much time as possible to recover from the injury that ruled her out of the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup.
Performance Director Ed Barney said: “Firstly I’d like to welcome Ian and Rhys into the men’s squad; in Ian we have an influential player who brings fantastic experience, and in Rhys we bring in a very talented player who I am sure will also make his mark on the tournament.
“Everyone within the squad would like to send very best wishes to Nick Park as he misses out at such a late stage. It is hugely unfortunate for him and we all wish him well in his recovery. There will be many more opportunities ahead for him, I am sure.”
Men's squad
| Position | Caps | Goals | |
| James Albery - Old Georgians | Defender | 21 ENG, 3 GB | 1 ENG |
| Liam Ansell - Wimbledon | Forward | 41 ENG, 26 GB | 8 ENG, 13 GB |
| Nick Bandurak - Holcombe | Forward | 14 ENG | 10 ENG |
| Will Calnan - Hampstead & Westminster | Midfielder | 31 ENG, 22 GB | 6 ENG, 2 GB |
| David Condon - Wimbledon | Midfielder | 130 ENG, 64 GB | 22 ENG, 12 GB |
| Brendan Creed - Surbiton | Defender | 62 ENG, 43 GB | 1 GB |
| David Goodfield - Surbiton | Midfielder | 69 ENG, 15 GB | 11 ENG, 3 GB |
| Chris Griffiths - Old Georgians | Forward | 76 ENG, 52 GB | 14 ENG, 14 GB |
| James Mazarelo - Surbiton | Goalkeeper | 4 ENG | |
| Ollie Payne - Holcombe | Goalkeeper | 17 ENG, 12 GB | |
| Phil Roper - Holcombe | Midfielder | 100 ENG, 69 GB | 18 ENG, 21 GB |
| Stuart Rushmere - Surbiton | Midfielder | 10 ENG | 2 ENG |
| Ian Sloan - Wimbledon | Midfielder | 68 ENG, 60 GB | 3 ENG, 2 GB |
| Rhys Smith - Wimbledon | Midfielder | 19 ENG, 10 GB | |
| Tom Sorsby - Surbiton | Midfielder | 23 ENG, 32 GB | |
| Zach Wallace (C) - HGC | Defender | 39 ENG, 37 GB | 5 ENG, 4 GB |
| Jack Waller - Wimbledon | Defender | 24 ENG, 38 GB | 2 GB |
| Sam Ward - Old Georgians | Forward | 78 ENG, 77 GB | 59 ENG, 32 GB |
Women's squad
| Position | Caps | Goals | |
| Giselle Ansley – Surbiton | Defender | 110 ENG, 78 GB | 19 ENG, 10 GB |
| Grace Balsdon – Hampstead & Westminster | Defender | 59 ENG, 48 GB | 10 ENG, 7 GB |
| Fiona Crackles – Wimbledon | Midfielder | 24 ENG, 16 GB | |
| Sophie Hamilton – Surbiton | Midfielder | 17 ENG, 4 GB | 1 ENG |
| Sabbie Heesh – Surbiton | Goalkeeper | 9 ENG, 18 GB | |
| Maddie Hinch – HC Tilburg | Goalkeeper | 108 ENG, 68 GB | |
| Tess Howard – East Grinstead | Forward | 18 ENG, 33 GB | 5 ENG, 7 GB |
| Holly Hunt – Hampstead & Westminster | Midfielder | 17 ENG, 2 GB | 1 GB |
| Hannah Martin – Surbiton | Forward | 57 ENG, 45 GB | 11 ENG, 10 GB |
| Shona McCallin - Reading | Midfielder | 51 ENG, 62 GB | 2 ENG, 1 GB |
| Lily Owsley – HDM | Midfielder | 103 ENG, 84 GB | 23 ENG, 19 GB |
| Hollie Pearne-Webb (C) – Wimbledon | Defender | 122 ENG, 96 GB | 7 ENG, 4 GB |
| Flora Peel – HDM | Midfielder | 10 ENG | |
| Izzy Petter – Surbiton | Forward | 27 ENG, 31 GB | 4 ENG, 4 GB |
| Ellie Rayer – East Grinstead | Forward | 53 ENG, 31 GB | 6 ENG, 5 GB |
| Anna Toman – SCHC | Defender | 58 ENG, 53 GB | 2 ENG, 6 GB |
| Laura Unsworth – East Grinstead | Midfielder | 167 ENG, 134 GB | 8 ENG, 5 GB |
| Lily Walker – University of Birmingham | Midfielder | 16 ENG |
England’s men play in the very first match of the men’s event, taking on debutants Ghana, before a home nations clash with Wales two days later. England’s women are handed fixtures on both the first Saturday and Sunday, coming up against Ghana and Canada.
Matches take place at the University of Birmingham and tickets are on sale now at the official Birmingham 2022 website.
Men’s competition
Men’s Pool B
India
England
Canada
Wales
Ghana
England men’s pool fixtures
Fri 29 Jul 7pm England v Ghana
Sun 31 Jul 2pm England v Wales
Mon 1 Aug 4pm England v India
Thu 4 Aug 4pm England v Canada
Men’s knockout matches
Sat 6 Aug Semi-Finals and 7th-10th place play-offs
Sun 7 Aug 5th-6th play-off
Mon 8 Aug Final and 3rd – 4th play-off
Women’s competition
Women’s Pool A
England
India
Canada
Wales
Ghana
England women’s pool fixtures
Sat 30 Jul 4pm England v Ghana
Sun 31 Jul 7pm England v Canada
Tue 2 Aug 2pm England v India
Thu 4 Aug 11am England v Wales
Women’s knockout matches
Fri 5 Aug Semi-Finals and 7th-10th place play-offs
Sun 7 Aug Final and 3rd to 6th place play-offs
Tickets are on general sale now – go to https://tickets.birmingham2022.com to find out more.